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Timeline on the Life of the Enigma: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Posted on by Penguin India

With his phenomenal gumption as wicketkeeper, batsman and captain, Mahi has captivated the hearts of billions of Indians. He dealt with his career, both on and off field, with common sense, a lot of practical ingenuity and some unmatched foresight.
Here are some key milestones in Dhoni’s journey in life, that made him the maestro he is today:

2004: The year of ‘smashing’ new beginnings

India meets the new star of Indian cricket and witnesses his unique repertoire of breathtaking strokes.
“It was late 2004. There had been talk of an exciting twenty-four-year-old from Ranchi who had been making waves in domestic cricket with his big-hitting, but there was little evidence of his prowess, especially when he made a quiet entry in his first few international games.”
There wasn’t much scope left for debate when Dhoni smashed 148 in the next game he played.

‘The India A tour to Kenya in 2004 is correctly identified as the tipping point for Dhoni’s graduation to international cricket. This was one of the first A series to be shown live on TV back home.’

2005: India’s new wicketkeeper

Dhoni makes his international debut and his all-rounder traits come to life through his expert wicketkeeping and explosive batting skills.
‘They’re in the city for the 2004-05 edition of the Challenger Trophy. Dhoni, who made his international debut only two months earlier, is part of the India Seniors team led by Sourav Ganguly.’
‘Dhoni had crossed single figures only once in his first three ODI innings. So, when India met Pakistan in the second ODI in Vizag on 5 April 2005, India’s new wicketkeeper had a lot to prove. Dhoni had batted at No. 7 in all those previous innings.

It’s an area of the ground where he rarely scores. But it was a shot that had both oomph and a bit of arrogance.
‘I saw that boundary and thought, today he’ll score a century. His career hasn’t looked back since that boundary,’ recalls Chhotu about the 123-ball 148 that set the Dhoni career off with a bang.

2006: To chop off or not to chop off?

Dhoni sports his mane with confidence and gets Pakistan’s nod on it.
In other news, he becomes a record holder of the highest ODI score by any wicketkeeper.

The mane was there to stay. Even dictator Pervez Musharraf agreed. He, in fact, ordered Dhoni to not even think about chopping his locks off. By then, Dhoni had also smashed two blitzkrieg centuries, including the highest one day international (ODI) score by any wicketkeeper, established himself among the most destructive batsmen in world cricket and was just a year away from taking over as India’s T20 captain and winning the inaugural World T20, and chopping off his hair.

2007: Shows exemplary captaincy through his unexpected decisions

Thanks to Dhoni’s trailblazing leadership and shrewd judgement, India becomes the first-ever world champions in T-20 cricket.
‘The Joginder Sharma example, of course, stands out, when on that famous night in Johannesburg in 2007, Dhoni handed the inexperienced medium-pacer the final over in the grand finale against Pakistan, a move that shocked the world and also eventually made India the first-ever world champions in T20 cricket.’

2008: Becomes a ‘Super King’

It’s time for IPL players auction and the most popular cricketer in the country is in high demand, so much so that his predictive market rate was going up by USD 100,000 almost every fifteen minutes.
‘The first-ever IPL players’ auction took place on 20 February 2008 at a plush hotel in Mumbai.
Then the CSK management had to take a call on how much they would be willing to pay for Dhoni.
When Mumbai took it up to USD 1.4 million, Chandrasekhar hesitated for so long that he recalls that the Ambani-led auction table almost began to celebrate, and that’s when he pulled the trigger again and took the price up to 1.5 million. That was it. Mumbai backed out.

2014: The legend calls it quits

India is flabbergasted. Conspiracies start floating around, no one understands the reason behind his decision to quit test cricket in the middle of a series.
‘Dhoni quit test cricket in the middle of the series against Australia in 2014-15. I had no inkling – nobody did – that this thought was even churning in his mind. When he announced his retirement, everybody was stupefied.’
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Bharat S Sundaresan’s The Dhoni Touch focuses on breaking into the life of a cricketer extraordinaire, who has remained a mystery wrapped in a million dollar bubble. This is not the story of where M.S. Dhoni has come from or where he’s reached. It’s about how he got there.

13 Facts you Didn’t Know about James Bond Before 007

Posted on by Penguin India

We all know and are in awe of the famous James Bond 007, but little do we know about just James Bond.
Forever and a Day, the thrilling prequel to Casino Royale, will take us through the action packed life of James Bond, a field agent who was prepped to take up a 00-status, after successfully performing two official assassinations.
Here are some riveting facts that will introduce you to a young Bond still finding himself, learning his skills and what it means to be a 00 agent.


 

4 stark differences between the ideologies of Aurangzeb and Shivaji

Posted on by Penguin India

Aurangzeb was the last of great Mughal emperors and ruled India from 1658 to 1707. He was a staunch Muslim and his policies abandoned religious tolerance.
On the other hand, Shivaji, the Maratha King, was expected to follow the footsteps of his forefathers and become a jagirdar. But he spurned the life he was born into. He picked up his sword and chose to fight for the freedom of his people, for a free Maratha nation.
During the Maratha war of independence, Shivaji and Aurangzeb were at daggers drawn with each other and so were their philosophies on religion, war and humanity:
1. Religion
 Though Aurangzeb was the ruler of a mixed Hindu-Muslim kingdom, he was an orthodox Muslim who was compelled to embrace the philosophies of his perception of Islam.

Shivaji was inclusive and respected all communities and religions. Being a pluralist helped him gain respect in all communities.

 
2. Governance
 Rajaji Shivaji was a brilliant and courageous general who wanted Swaraj – self-governance.

Relentless and rebellious, Aurangzeb was a monarch who wanted to oppress everyone and wanted them under ‘sunni’ – the rule of the Mughal empire.

 
3. War strategies
Aurangzeb fought his wars with brute force irrespective of what the consequences would be.

On the contrary, Shivaji tried to avoid wars with excessive blood shed, and instead deployed his masterful strategies. He used Guerrilla tactics very shrewdly. 

 
4. Humanity
Shivaji followed principles of humanity. He had an unshakeable faith in the inherent decency of humankind; it was a thread that ran through his life and connected his disparate actions.

While Aurangzeb was ruthless in his actions and was hungry for power and victory, even if it meant killing his own blood.

 
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4 Versions of the Epic Ramayana You Didn’t Know

Posted on by Penguin India

Borrowing from Sanghadasa’s Jaina version, Mandodari, authored by a passionate mythologist, Manini J. Anandani, gives a voice to Ravana’s wife, one of the least known characters of the Hindu epic.
Did you know there is version of Ramayana where Hanuman is not a celibate and one where there is no mention of Ravana? Different religions and societies in Southeast Asia have alternative narratives of the epic.
Here are some vastly different philosophies of various sects, that deviate from the traditional plot we are all familiar with:
 Dasaratha Jakarta: The Buddhist version

Dasaratha is the king of Benaras and not Ayodhya, in this version. What’s also different from Valmiki’s version is that instead of being exiled from the kingdom, King Dasaratha sends Rama and Sita away to the Himalayas. He wants to protect them from his over pushy third wife Kaikeyi, who’s the only antagonist in the story. Twelve years later, Rama and Sita return to Benaras, and not Ayodhya, and get married.
 
 Paumachariya: The Jaina version

Titled Paumachariya, in the Jaina version, Rama is a follower of non-violence. Being an ardent follower of Jainism, Rama is the supreme hero in this version as well, and cannot be a killer.
The Jaina version presents a rational view, unlike the Hindu one that is more fantastical.
Instead of a monkey army, this version suggests that there was a warrior clan that beared the monkey as their emblem.
The most intriguing feature in this version is the depiction of Ravana; who’s not shown in a villainous light. On the contrary, he is a magnanimous king and also a believer of Jainism.
 
Gond Ramayani: The Gond version
This adivasi community that hails from Madhya Pradesh, weaves their own plot into the texts of Ramayana and is called the Gond Ramayani. It is an oral narrative that consists of seven tales told in the folk tradition of the tribe. It also overlaps with some characters of the Mahabharata, for example, Bhim. In this narrative, Lakshman takes centrestage in his pursuit for a bride. Rama is not the protagonist in this version of the katha.

The first chapter is about Lakshman and Indra’s daughter, Indrakamani, with Sita stepping in frequently. In the last tale Sita is exiled by Rama into the forest where their first son Luv is born. Their second son Kush however, is not a natural born. He is created by sages taking care of Sita in the forest. The lore has a happy ending with the family reuniting and returning to their palace.
 
Ramakien: The Thai version
With a great influence on the arts and culture of Thailand, Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana is considered as Thailand’s national epic, still taught in some schools in the country.

Although fatal, his pursuit for Sita is described as true love.
Though there are some similarities to Valmiki’s version, this tale lays more emphasis on Hanuman. He is not a celibate in this version, rather is quite popular among the women.
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Meet the two enthralling protagonists from The House Swap

Posted on by Penguin India

Married with a young son, Caroline and Francis want to take a break from their humdrum lives and rekindle their relationship. They swap houses with strangers, for a week – going from their city flat to a townhouse in upscale London. Little do they know of the series of strange events that are yet to unravel.
Here’s a look inside the lives of these two self-destructive characters.
Meet Caroline
With her marriage in shambles, Caroline longs for a do-over in life. She often feels a sense of claustrophobia around her husband.

This makes her go down the dark memory lane of her past, one she’s been trying hard to leave behind.
—–
 Meet Francis

His addiction to prescription pills worsens his behaviour towards his wife and son, thereby exacerbating the problems in his marriage.
He’s enthusiastic about the idea of a house swap and appreciates his wife for taking an initiative to work on their marriage, not anticipating how things could take a dark turn.
——

Things You Didn’t Know About Enid Blyton

Posted on by Penguin India

The name Enid Blyton has been synonym to the term children’s literature for over half a century. Being one of the world’s bestsellers in this genre, Blyton’s work continues to impact the sphere of children’s fiction till date. Her most famous works include Noddy, Famous Five, The Secret Seven, which have found a paramount place in libraries around the world. By mastering her passion, she has left behind an exceptional legacy in the field of writing.
Here are a few things that you did not know about Enid Blyton:

 

 

 

 

5 Things you Need to Know about the Author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Posted on by Penguin India

Robert T. Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and Why the Rich Are Getting Richer. In Rich Dad Poor Dad, he has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money. The book talks about Kiyosaki’s background, his business ventures and investments and variation between possessions and liabilities and what importance they both have in terms of starting and owning a business. It also sheds light on the teachings given by rich to their kids, which is usually missed by poor as well as the middle class parents and why it is important to have financial literacy over and above all.
Here are 4 more things you need to know about the author.




5 Things to know about 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Posted on by Penguin India

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari calls to attention some of the most relevant predicaments of today. It asks about what we should teach the younger generation today in order to prepare them for the world of tomorrow. Spanning from nuclear war and environmental crisis to the disruptions caused by the swiftly developing technology in today’s time, this book gives a sweeping look at the future.
Here are five things you need to know about Harari’s upcoming book:
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Five dialogues from Forever And A Day that make us love James Bond even more

Posted on by Penguin India

When the previous 007 dies in the waters of the French Riviera, it’s time for a new agent to step up and take charge. Enter James Bond, still learning the ropes of the spy world.
This is the story of the birth of a legend, in the brutal underworld of the French Riviera.
With its elaborate action sequences and a plot that will keep you interested from the opening chapters and never let go, Forever and A Day will leave you wanting more…of Bond, of course.
 
Five dialogues that will leave you wanting more….of Bond, of course:
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

All About Jazz! 7 Things You Didn’t Know about Bombay’s Jazz Culture

Posted on by Penguin India

Bombay, renamed Mumbai after the goddess Mumbadevi, defies definition. Vibrant, engaging and provocative, Bombay, Meri Jaan is an anthology as rich and varied as the city it celebrates.
Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Dilip Chitre, Saadat Hasan Manto, V.S.Naipaul, Khushwant Singh and Busybee, among others, write about aspects of the city. In one piece within the anthology Naresh Fernandes explores the jazz culture of the sixties. Intrigued?
Read on to find out 7 things you didn’t know about the jazz culture of Bombay:

  1. There was a class divide between musicians and their audience

  1. There was no correct way to play jazz. You just went with the flow.

  1. Most jazz musicians were originally from Goa

  1. What was considered high praise by jazz musicians may surprise you…

  1. Bollywood songs were arranged and assisted by jazz musicians like Chic Chocolate.

  1. Jazzy weddings?A jazz song from Lorna Cordeiro’s album became a standard at Goan weddings

  1. Grave diggers were in high demand


 
 
Bombay, Meri Jaan, comprising of poems and prose pieces by some of the biggest names in literature, in addition to cartoons, photographs, a song and a Bombay Duck recipe, tries to capture the spirit of this great metropolis.
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